UEFA appeal hearing in Nyon today

The UEFA Appeals Body hearing into the Norway-Malta match-fixing case will take place this morning at the European body’s headquarters in Nyon.

Former Malta midfielder Kevin Sammut is challenging the 10-year international ban given to him by UEFA’s Control and Disciplinary Body after being found guilty of rigging the Euro 2008 qualifier between Norway and Malta.

Three goals in the last 18 minutes propelled Norway to a 4-0 victory over Malta in that infamous match, played in June 2007.

On the other hand, UEFA’s disciplinary inspector is seeking to convert Sammut’s 10-year suspension into a life ban.

In its original ruling, UEFA had cleared former Malta defenders Kenneth Scicluna and Stephen Wellman because the evidence against them was “insufficient to take any disciplinary action” but the disciplinary inspector has appealed the decision.

Scicluna is currently playing for Division One side Marsaxlokk while Wellman recently returned to action for Qormi after a lengthy absence from first-team football.

The three Maltese players and their lawyers are expected to attend today’s hearing which is due to commence at 10am.

Officials from the Malta FA’s Integrity Office are also expected to be present for the hearing which was initially scheduled to be held yesterday but was later moved to today.

The Norway-Malta match-fixing saga stretches back to May of last year when Croatian betting mastermind Marijo Cvrtak testified in the Bochum court that he had personally met with some Malta players at an Oslo hotel to fix the Euro 2008 qualifier.

The Malta FA conducted a detailed investigation into Cvrtak’s allegations. The voluminous dossier was then handed to UEFA who proceeded with the case since the match in question was a Euro Championship qualifier.

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